The global order is undergoing a significant transformation as the era of unipolar dominance gives way to a more diverse and competitive geopolitical landscape. In this emerging multipolar world, high-stakes diplomacy is once again taking centre stage. While great power rivalries escalate, middle powers are assuming more prominent roles, building strategic partnerships, advancing regional priorities, and advocating for fairer international systems. Their growing influence reflects a shift in how diplomacy and leadership are exercised in today’s world, where agility and cooperation are increasingly essential.
The session will explore how middle powers are responding to shifting power dynamics through strategic diplomacy and versatile leadership. It will examine their role in shaping regional alignments, mediating global conflicts, and proposing collaborative solutions to shared challenges. The discussion will also assess how middle powers might contribute to reforming global governance structures to ensure broader representation, and how their actions could help foster a more balanced and resilient international order.
Discussion Themes:
- How are middle powers redefining global diplomacy in the context of emerging multipolarity and great power rivalry?
- What leadership strategies and alliances are middle powers using to enhance their influence on global and regional issues?
- Could Türkiye offer a viable model for how middle powers contribute to future conflict resolution and peacebuilding initiatives?
- What role can middle powers play in reforming global governance to reflect emerging realities and non-Western perspectives?